I think it has something to do with where you put it.
We moved from Seattle to rural KY about seven years ago. My wife was looking at plans for new homes and they allowed you to punch in your zip code and they would then give you a price.
With our current zip code, the design she liked priced at just under $100,000. She then punched in our old Seattle area zip code and it priced at over $300,000.
And in neither case did it include the land. FWIW, I purchased my neighbor’s 20 acre knob with two streams and gorgeous view for $2,000 an acre. Our old Seattle area address would have cost a bit more, even for a 5,000 sq ft postage stamp lot.
I’m slapping up a 15x9 sheet metal building for my zero-turn and garden tools for $400. Sure, I’m doing it myself but it’s fun and easy. Gravel floor at first
And no permits. I’ve already built a 16x8 shed and an 8x8 chicken coup and will hopefully get my 36x36 garage done this summer. That one is $17k including concrete slab.
I know of people who build a garage in Appalachia ( NY/Pa.),
put in a basement, and then chose to live in it.
Somehow they beat the zoning code for plumbing
and never got around to building the 'main house'.
Construction costs vary from region to region. Here in southern NH a drilled well starts around $6K, a 3 bedroom septic = $12K+. Poured concrete floor runs $8/square foot.
Excavator operators charge $150/hour. These all change depending whether you are in rural KY, Long Island, NY or Bozeman, MT. Generally the more rural, the cheaper. The local market will only bear so much.
Those permits alone will kill your budget. Just speaking with someone today who had a hot water heater replacement. The cost for a needed PERMIT (city) was $75 dollars. Ridiculous.
Driving around a few weekends ago went through a small Texas town close to Collinsville. A lovely metal building-house, 2 story, 11.5 acres. 2 Texas highways traveling along side. A VERY nice place for 300,000. The location would not be conducive for sleep, I’m thinking but who knows. At least the train track is on the other side of town.
Realtors now are listing the selling price of homes and their listings usually show the monthly taxes due on the property/house. They forever have their hand in your pocket.
My hubby lived in Seattle 40-50 years ago. He just loved it. The days of wine and roses. In today’s Seattle things might be seen much differently.